Lutrochidae - Long-toed or Travertine Beetles

These beetles share the same habitats as that of dryopid and elmid riffle beetles (Dryopidae, Elmidae) and water-pennies (Psephenidae), although there is a preference for calcarious deposits from mineral springs (Brown 1972) (or possibly areas with high rates of instream photosynthetic activity, when calcium carbonate precipitates). There is one species and genus that reaches our area. In Wisconsin, larvae were found in rocks, and adults were found in various lotic habitats of mixed substrate, with ovipositing adults occuring on wood and the travertine of rocks in shallow riffles (Hilsenhoff and Schmude 1992).

Lutrochus Erichson, 1847

Lutrochus laticeps Casey , 1893 - Brown 1972

Page created: April 11, 2006 - Last updated: April 12, 2006 (EB)